Donald Trump’s attempted assassination: EU and world leaders react

EU Leaders React

Reactions have been coming in from European leaders, with many expressing their sympathy for Donald Trump and condemning the US election campaign’s descent into violence.

President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said “political violence has no place in a democracy,” whilst French President Emmanuel Macron posted that “it is a tragedy for our democracies.”

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also posted on X.

“My solidarity and my best wishes for a speedy recovery go to him, with the hope that the next few months of the electoral campaign will see dialogue and responsibility prevail over hatred and violence.”

The political leader Trump is closest too in Italy however is Matteo Salvini, the far-right leader of the League Party. He posted: “Stronger than everything and everyone. We wish him a speedy recovery. This is the president America needs.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is an ally of Trump, spoke of “dark hours.”

In the Netherlands the leader of the far-right Freedom Party blamed “hate rhetoric” coming from leftist politicians.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the attack in a post on X as “despicable.”

“The attack on US presidential candidate Donald Trump is despicable. I wish him a speedy recovery. My thoughts are also with those who were affected by the attack. Such acts of violence threaten democracy.”

NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the attack.

Spain’s President Pedro Sanchez posted on X:

“I want to convey my strongest condemnation of the attack suffered by Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. Violence and hatred have no place in a democracy. My best wishes for a speedy recovery to former President Trump and the rest of the injured and my sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.

And Ukraine’s president Volodymr Zelenskyy posted that “never should violence prevail.”

Slovak prime minister Robert Fico, was himself the target of an assassination attempt in May, posted on Facebook: “It’s a carbon copy of the script. Trump’s political opponents are trying to shut him down. When they fail, they incite the public until some poor guy takes up arms.”

A gunman shot Fico five times as he greeted supporters in the town of Handlova in May, and now has to manage some permanent health issues. He underwent a five-hour surgery to treat multiple wounds he suffered in the shooting, followed by another two-hour surgery two days later to remove dead tissue from his gunshot wounds.

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Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on social media platform X that he was appalled by the attempt and wished Trump a quick and full recovery.

“Political violence has no place in our society! My thoughts are with all the victims of this attack!” he said.

World Leaders React

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X: “Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump. We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has an adversarial relationship with Trump, said during a campaign event broadcast on state television that he wished Trump a speedy recovery: “May God bless the people of the United States and give them peace and tranquility. We have been adversaries, but I wish President Trump health and long life, and I repudiate that attack.”

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China’s Foreign Ministry has put out a statement saying: “Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his sympathy and solidarity with former U.S. President Donald Trump following the shooting at the rally in Pennsylvania.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attempted assassination as an inexcusable attack on the United States and Australia’s shared democratic values.

“In Australia, as in the United States, the essence and the purpose of our democracies is that we can express our views, debate our disagreements and resolve our differences peacefully,” Albanese told reporters in the Australian Parliament House.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on X that the attack must be “strongly repudiated” by all democracy defenders and dialogue in politics, calling the incident unacceptable.

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Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X saying that he was sickened by the shooting and his thoughts were with Trump, those at the event and all Americans.

“It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable,” he wrote.

Egyptian President Abdelfattah El Sissi expressed concern and stressed his country’s condemnation of the attack in a statement.

“I express my wishes for Trump’s speedy recovery and for the US election campaigns to be resumed in a peaceful and healthy atmosphere, free of any aspects of terrorism, violence, or hatred,” he said.

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X that he was deeply concerned by “the attack on my friend.”

Mexico’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador denounced the attack on X and said “violence is irrational and inhumane.”

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol said on X that he was appalled by “the hideous act” of political violence. He added the people of Korea stand in solidarity with Americans.

Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te wished Trump a speedy recovery and said his thoughts and prayers are with Trump on X. He said political violence of any form is never acceptable “in our democracies” and offered his condolences to the victims.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he was relieved to learn that Trump is fine on X and his thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

“Together with all democracy loving peoples around the world, we condemn all forms of political violence. The voice of the people must always remain supreme,” he said